The Hindu : National : Navy takes charge of 97 fishermen

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Monday, Nov 05, 2007
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Navy takes charge of 97 fishermen

C. Jaishankar

RAMANATHAPURAM: The Navy on Sunday took charge of the 97 Indian fishermen released by Sri Lanka with their 17 trawlers.

The fishermen, from Akkaraipettai and Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district, were apprehended off Kankesandurai sea by the Sri Lanka Navy on Friday for trespassing.

Speaking to The Hindu over phone, Commodore Phillip Van Haltren, Naval Officer-In-Charge, said the repatriation took place at the International Maritime Boundary Line at about 6 p.m. The Sri Lankan Navy, which brought the crew of 17 boats, handed them over to the naval personnel manning the Seaward Defence Boat T.58. The Assistant Director of Fisheries, Rameswaram, S. Velpandian, said one of the two fishing boats of Rameswaram, reported missing, returned safely on Sunday. Search boats were sent to bring back the other boat, which had been located.

B. Muralidhar Reddy reports from Colombo:

The fishermen were handed over as a humanitarian gesture after the Indian High Commissioner, Alok Prasad, took up the matter at the ‘highest level.’

A senior official said they had earlier been remanded to custody.

They were released after the Indian High Commissioner took up their case with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

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